Simple Tasks

In anything you must do the simple things well if you want to accomplish more complex tasks. If you don’t focus on the foundation everything else falls apart. So what are some simple tasks you should focus on?
Keep your elbows in: this is a good rule of thumb across grappling, my elbows protect my torso, and having my elbows in protects my arms.
Protect your torso: if I control the space between my armpit and my hip, life is easier, you cannot pass my guard if you can’t get through my elbow and knee
Be in front/above their hips: I am in the better attacking position if I am in front/above their hips. There is no guard if my legs are not between myself and my opposition. All dominant positions require you to be above your adversary’s legs.
Make useful connections: Connect to your opponent in a way that is advantageous for you and at best neutral for them
Minimize/Maximize friction: If I’m on the bottom my goal is to be as mobile as possible and therefore I need to limit the amount of contact with the ground and friction I am experiencing. On the flip side if I am in a pinning situation I need to increase contact with the ground and friction for the other party
Separate the extremity from center mass: if you want to attack a limb the first stage is to take it away from the body
Bend or Hyperextend: that’s all joint submissions are you bend it or you hyperextend it
Double closure: close the arteries on both sides of the neck